Part 1:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B8oo6_jIMcG6NGU1YmI2YWUtMTUzZi00NTllLWI1ZTMtOWZjOWNiMmYwZGU0&hl=en
Part 2:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B8oo6_jIMcG6ZGY0YzA1YTItMGYxOS00ZjNjLWJhNWMtZTNmZmViMzE3MzZk&hl=en
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Malaysia Festivals
Major Festivals in Malaysia
Hari Raya Aidilfitri
The most joyful of Muslim celebrations, Hari Raya Aidilfitri is celebrated after Ramadhan, the fasting month. During this occasion, Muslim’s working in the towns and cities make an exodus for their kampung or villages. Special prayers are held in mosques and it is a season when Muslims ask for forgiveness from their family members and friends.
The most joyful of Muslim celebrations, Hari Raya Aidilfitri is celebrated after Ramadhan, the fasting month. During this occasion, Muslim’s working in the towns and cities make an exodus for their kampung or villages. Special prayers are held in mosques and it is a season when Muslims ask for forgiveness from their family members and friends.
Thaipusam
This day of penance and thanksgiving for Hindus begins with a grand procession of the magnificent silver chariot bearing the statue of Lord Subramaniam, the God of Prosperity. In an atmosphere electric with drumming and chanting, holy water is sprinkled on the deity’s route and thousands of fresh coconuts are smashed, symbolising the washing away of sins.
This day of penance and thanksgiving for Hindus begins with a grand procession of the magnificent silver chariot bearing the statue of Lord Subramaniam, the God of Prosperity. In an atmosphere electric with drumming and chanting, holy water is sprinkled on the deity’s route and thousands of fresh coconuts are smashed, symbolising the washing away of sins.
Chinese New Year
A celebration lasting for 15 days beginning from the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar. The Chinese community ushers in the new year with a joyful family reunion dinner, a visit to the temple to seek the blessings of the God of Prosperity and giving ‘ang pow’ or red packets containing money by parents to their children or among relatives and well wishers.
A celebration lasting for 15 days beginning from the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar. The Chinese community ushers in the new year with a joyful family reunion dinner, a visit to the temple to seek the blessings of the God of Prosperity and giving ‘ang pow’ or red packets containing money by parents to their children or among relatives and well wishers.
Hari Raya Aidil Adha
The conclusion of the pilgrimage in Mecca is marked by the Hari Raya Aidil Adha celebrations. Sacrifices of cattle or goats are made by Muslims to commemorate Prophet Abraham’s test of faith by God when he was asked to sacrifice his son.
The conclusion of the pilgrimage in Mecca is marked by the Hari Raya Aidil Adha celebrations. Sacrifices of cattle or goats are made by Muslims to commemorate Prophet Abraham’s test of faith by God when he was asked to sacrifice his son.
First Muharram (Ma’al Hijrah)
Maal Hijrah, the first day of the new Islamic calendar year, is celebrated on a moderate scale with gatherings at public halls and mosques where special prayers, sermons and Quranic recitals are held to usher in the Muslim new year.
Maal Hijrah, the first day of the new Islamic calendar year, is celebrated on a moderate scale with gatherings at public halls and mosques where special prayers, sermons and Quranic recitals are held to usher in the Muslim new year.
Wesak is celebrated by Buddhists to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha – all three events having taken place on the same lunar date according to Buddhist reckoning. Buddhist observe a vegetarian diet to cleanse themselves prior to the occasion.
Sabah Kaamatan Festival
Ancient traditions, rites and customs are the order of the day as the indigenous Kadazan-Dusun of Sabah offer thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. The ‘Magavau’. a cleansing and blessing ritual performed by the Bobohizan or high priestess will keep you spellbound. It’s celebrated on 30-31 May annually.
Ancient traditions, rites and customs are the order of the day as the indigenous Kadazan-Dusun of Sabah offer thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. The ‘Magavau’. a cleansing and blessing ritual performed by the Bobohizan or high priestess will keep you spellbound. It’s celebrated on 30-31 May annually.
The end of the paddy harvesting season in Sarawak is cause for joyous celebration as the indigenous Ibans and Bidayuhs indulge in much merry-making, traditional dancing and drinking of tuak, a potent rice wine.
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
The birthday of the Prophet Muhammad or Maulidur Rasul is an important event in the Muslim calendar marked by processions to demonstrate solidarity of believers. Prayers, sermons and religious discussions are held at this time to strengthen the faith and consolidate the spirit of the Muslim community.
The birthday of the Prophet Muhammad or Maulidur Rasul is an important event in the Muslim calendar marked by processions to demonstrate solidarity of believers. Prayers, sermons and religious discussions are held at this time to strengthen the faith and consolidate the spirit of the Muslim community.
Moon Cake Festival
The mooncake festival had its origins during the Mongolian dynasty in China. The event is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth moon (August/September) with colourful lantern processions and the partaking of mooncakes.
National Day
Malaysia’s national Day is celebrated on 31st of August in a show of patriotism, unity and rejoicing by Malaysian of all races and creeds. A spectacular parade is held in the morning at the Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur to mark the occasion. His Majesty, the King and government leaders are joined by a mammoth crowd in witnessing the parade. The ‘Jalur Gemilang’ (Malaysian flag) is proudly flown at office buildings, private homes and on vehicles. Stage shows, competitions and exhibitions are held in the various states.
Deepavali
For the Hindus, Deepavali or the Festival of Lights signifies the triumph of good over evil. Celebrated during the 7th month of the Hindu calendar, a traditional oil bath precedes the festivities. The celebration includes visits to temples and prayers at household altars. Hindu homes are adorned with lights or oil lamps to symbolise the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon, Ravana.
Christmas
There is much joy and gaiety as Christians celebrate the birth of Christ with parties, carolling and evening mass. Streets, hotels and shopping complexes are decorated with brilliant lights and ornaments to create a yuletide atmosphere-the Malaysian way. The spirit of giving extends beyond homes and individuals as hotels, shopping complexes and corporate companies hold concerts and shows as well as organise charity drives.
Malaysia Flag
The Malaysian flag consists of 14 alternate red and white stripes of equal width, which represent the 13 states of Johore, Kedah, Kelantan, Melacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Penang, Terengganu and the Federal Territory.
The colour red symbolizes courage, while white indicates purity.
The dark blue canton in the upper left quarter symbolizes the unity of the Malaysian people.
The crescent moon in the dark blue canton is the symbol of Islam, the official religion of Malaysia.
The 14-pointed star stands for the unity of the 13 states and the Federal Government.
The yellow colour of the crescent moon and star represents the royal colour of the Rulers.
History of the Flag
The Malaysian flag is an adaptation of the flag of the Federation of Malaya. The original flag design was selected via a national competition organized by the Federal Legislative Council.
The Malaysian flag is an adaptation of the flag of the Federation of Malaya. The original flag design was selected via a national competition organized by the Federal Legislative Council.
Three hundred and seventy three (373) entries were submitted, and only three designs made it to the final round.
The first design featured a pair of keris criss-crossed at the centre, surrounded by 11 five-pointed stars.
The second design had eleven five-pointed stars, forming two circles, surrounding a pair of criss-crossed keris.
The third design had red and white stripes with a yellow crescent moon and star on the left.
The Federal Legislative Council selected the third design after a public referendum organized by a local newspaper.
The Council of Rulers approved the final flag design on 22 and 23 February 1950. On 19 April 1950, the Federal Legislative Council passed a motion proposed by the then Acting Chief Secretary:
“That in the opinion of this Council, the Flag of the Federation of Malaya should be as follows: Fourteen horizontal stripes alternately red and white in colour, the uppermost stripe being red, having a blue quarter with a crescent and eleven-pointed stars in yellow superimposed, the standard size of the flag to be six feet by three feet.”
King George VI approved the flag design on 19 May 1950.
With to the formation of the State Malaysia on 16 September 1963, the design of the Malaysian flag was altered to incorporate 14 stripes and a star with 14 points, representing the 14 states of Malaysia, including Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.
Although Singapore withdrew from Malaysia on 9 August 1965, the stripes and 14-pointed star were retained to indicate the union of the 13 states and the Federal Government.
The official name of the Malaysian flag Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory) was announced by Prime Minister Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in conjunction with the 40th National Day celebrations in 1997 .
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
National Day of Malaysia '1 Malaysia: People first, performance now'
Despite the last half a century of rapid development, relative peace and prosperity, Malaysia has miles to go before it can call itself a nation united. There are those that say that the peace that exists is fragile; that all it takes is one major incident to re-ignite the racial riots of 1969. However, it is not fear of such a tragedy that drives the quest for 1 Malaysia. Rather, it is the knowledge that to achieve its goal of being a nation on par with the rest of the global community, Malaysia must rely on its people - all of them - and make full use of its human capital to achieve its potential. Only when this occurs can an achievement like Vision 2020 become a reality.
Interdependence has always been Malaysia's secret to success, however, it has never been truly embraced. Now, with 1 Malaysia, the new Prime Minister has decided that it is time to stop apologizing for who we are as a nation and begin exploiting it as the vehicle to drive the nation to its next phase of success. It is not merely a cliche to say 'unity through diversity.' Malaysia has been doing it for over fifty years. However, more work needs to be done to make it a lasting reality and the very source of success itself.
1Malaysia is designed to re-orient Malaysia toward a new direction geared towards greater unity and success. The days of a nation functioning as independent and separate ethnic and racial communities are gone. The new world we are living in requires the nation to act as one - to live, eat and breath interdependence in everything that we do. The time has come, therefore, to give real life to the term 'bangsa Malaysia,' or a 'Malaysian people' - that puts its loyalties to the greater society above all else by dedicating to eight noble principles as laid out by the Prime Minister. Through these eight principles, the nation has a blueprint for moving towards becoming united, able and ready to take on any and all challenges that might come its way.
1Malaysia, in fact, already exists. Its foundation is written into the founding principles of the nation (rukun negara) and the country's constitution and we live it everyday in our communities. It's called interdependence, yet due to political and historical realities, a united Malaysia in both form and spirit has yet to reach its full potential. It is a story that, God willing, will have a happy ending for the simple reason that it must. A nation disunited in challenging times is doomed to fail. And right now, the nation and world are facing challenges on multiple fronts.
A united nation is a confident nation. A nation that is confident believes that no challenge is too great and that nothing can stand in its way. The spirit of 1Malaysia is toward creating a nation that truly believes that it can not only compete with anyone in the world, but that it can lead. To date, much of the discourse has been limited to the wish to be competitive as a nation. This is limited thinking and is at least partially due to the fact that Malaysia is not a confident nation. 'Malaysia boleh' which means 'Malaysia can' must be transformed into 'Malaysia yakin' which means 'Malaysia is confident'. Malaysia yakin will naturally result when we learn that all we need to be successful already exists within our borders, and that we have everything we need to succeed, we only lack the belief and will to do it.
Unity is contagious. When people are united in their beliefs, the result can move mountains. History is the best teacher in this regard. Dedication to the nation and its development requires a belief that what one is doing is important and valued. Dedication does not result from fear campaigns, forced labor, propoganda or misinformation. Dedication results from a strong, unwavering belief that what one is doing is important, and that one's efforts will bear fruit. Traditionally, those who have been most dedicated to movements, whether they be political, social or other, have been those who have believed in those movements with all their hearts and souls. Those who have been willing to give everything of themselves, even their lives, for their beliefs in something better.
The belief that one can be the best results in the confidence and dedication to working towards that goal. Malaysia must also embrace its unique founding principles and bring them to life through the policies and practices of the country as well as the interactions between its diverse people. Malaysia, among developing nations, is often referred to as the best example of how a pluralistic, multi-religious country can live peacefully and enjoy the benefits of prosperity. As a nation of only 52 years, what Malaysia has accomplished has, by many measures, far exceeded what the developed nations were able to achieve in their first 50 years of statehood. Yet, many Malaysians do not realize these things about the nation.
Loyalty, in practice, means working to strengthen racial and faith communities for the betterment of the nation as a whole. 1Malaysia means supporting each other and in doing so to ensure that individual identities are not threatened, that people can still maintain their cultural and religious freedoms and traditions while being wholeheartedly patriotic at the same time. It's what makes being a Malaysian so unique.
A nation requires balance and equilibrium for harmony to ensue. This can only be achieved if each of the major groups in society are capable of knowing and fulfilling their respective roles and realizing that one group can only prosper when all the others do. If any one group is successful at the expense of another, it is a sign of disequilibrium that indicates peace and prosperity will not last for long. It further indicates that we are not valuing unity, for a truly united nation will not tolerate seeing injustice and inequality among the other groups. If one of our communities is hurting, it is up to the others to help that community overcome its challenges. Thus, the test of unity is whether or not the nation functions as a living system, or is it merely 'tolerating' each other's existence. None of the major groups in Malaysian society should rest if and when the others are suffering.
The vision of 1Malaysia should not be a utopian dream where each of the major groups in society are expected to be good at all things, look like one another, sound like one another and do the same things. Rather, in the same way that a football team has unique roles for each of its players, each of the groups, through a focus on individual strengths, can maximize its contribution to the whole, resulting in balance and equilibrium. To accomplish this feat, eight lofty principles have been put forward by the Prime Minister of Malaysia in the context of the 1 Malaysia initiative. These eight principles are: humility, acceptance, loyalty, meritocracy, education, integrity, culture of excellence, and perseverance. These principles, when realized, will result in not just a unified nation but a harmonious and dynamic human community comprised of different shapes, sizes and colours that represent the richness and uniqueness of Southeast Asia.
Source: http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=77666
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